Newcastle United have come back with a significant new proposal for Anthony Elanga, according to Fabrizio Romano, while Nottingham Forest is awaiting news on a winger signing of their own.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has pinpointed Elanga as his primary target for the winger position as he aims to inject more pace and threat into the squad. The Magpies have been looking for a new right winger for a while, and Elanga is seen as an excellent fit to elevate their ambitious project.
The 23-year-old has made a strong impression on Newcastle scouts with his electrifying performances for Forest. At Forest, Elanga has performed admirably in Nuno Espirito Santo’s counterattacking scheme, demonstrating his ability to get past opponents and either score or help his teammates.
With six goals and twelve assists at the end of the previous campaign, he was instrumental in Forest’s successful comeback to European competition by helping them qualify for the Europa Conference League following a 30-year break.
Elanga may or may not be included in Forest’s European tour, though. David Ornstein said on June 24 that Newcastle had made a high bid of £45 million (€52 million or $61 million) for the Sweden international. Forest allegedly has no intention of letting him go, thus they did not make a counteroffer in spite of this. Still, Newcastle is undeterred and has returned with a new bid.
Romano has now disclosed that this latest proposal is worth an impressive £55 million (€64m / $75m). If a transfer at this figure goes through, Elanga would rank joint-second on Newcastle’s list of biggest signings, alongside Sandro Tonali, only behind Alexander Isak.
However, personal terms with Fofana have not yet been settled, as he is reportedly awaiting offers from Champions League clubs, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Napoli.
As for Anthony Elanga, sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that he is eager to make the switch to Newcastle. While he appreciates what Forest has done for his career after bringing him in from Manchester United, an opportunity to compete in the Champions League with Newcastle is a significant draw.
Newcastle’s project appears to be progressing well, evidenced by their triumph in the League Cup last season. Elanga’s representatives have engaged in multiple discussions with Newcastle’s recruitment team, and there are no anticipated issues regarding contract terms.
TEAMtalk previously reported on June 9 that Newcastle was targeting both Elanga and Joao Pedro from Brighton, the latter of whom has since joined Chelsea. Nevertheless, Newcastle remains confident in securing a deal for Elanga.
On June 22, sources indicated that Newcastle had intensified their pursuit of Elanga, contemplating using Harvey Barnes as a potential bargaining chip in negotiations. Currently, Newcastle is focused on a straight cash deal rather than a swap. However, if Forest turns down their latest offer, Barnes may be included to enhance Newcastle’s bid.
Additionally, TEAMtalk understands that Newcastle has identified four other wingers as contingencies should they encounter setbacks in their quest to acquire Elanga.
